Deflecting tool



Jan. 3, 1939. T. E. MCMAHAN 2,142,858

DEFLECIfING TOOL I Filed March 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 in V1V TOR.

T. E. M MAHAN Jan. 3, 1939.

N6 TOOL Filed March l5,- 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm x u m lllil s HMHHWHHWHHHHH /1" K fi m P- fi w a 1 WA H A I N VE 1V TOR. 7790/1/75 A. N Iii/MM Patented Jan. 3, 1939v UNITED sTA s PATENT OFFICE or, by

mesne assignments, to lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif.,

a corporation of Del- Application March 15, 1937, Serial No. 130,888

' 17 Claims. The invention relates to a deflecting tool particularly'useful in the drflling of deep bores such as oil wellsv and essentially to straighten a crooked hole or to deflect the hole from a vertical 5 plane. I

An object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive tool which, when run into a well or the like,normaliy hangs at an angle to the drill pipe and when drilling, con- 10 tinues with the deflecting bit, a portion of the drill pipe is aligned with the shank of the bit. Another object is to provide a novel yieldable means of holding the bit shank at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe, said yieldable 15 means being compressed when the bit is in drilling position.

Still another object is to provide a no'velsliding connection between the bit shank and the mounting sleeve, said sliding connection being 20 so constructed that when the shank is suspended by its own weight, the said shank will extend at an angle to the longitudinal line of the drill pipe.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying 25 drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1. is a side elevation of my deflecting tool with parts broken, away to show interior 3 construction. Y

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tool with the parts-shown in drilling position.

lFigure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the su w Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slightly modifled form of tool with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the form of tool shown in Figure 4, by illustrating parts in drilling position. F

Figure '7 is alongitudinal sectional view of still another form of deflecting tool showing the parts 45 in drilling position.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the tool shown in Figure l and showing the parts in deflecting position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 0 the numeral l indicates a sleeve which is attached to the lower end of the drill'pipe (not shown) by a suitable thread connection. The, sleeve is provided with a vertical bore 2, and with a plurality of vertical slots or grooves l, the pur- 35 pose of which will be further described. The

taken on line -5 lower end of each of the grooves 3, are cut at an angle'to the vertical as shown at 4, the purpose of this angular portionbeing to permit the drill shank to hang at an angle to the vertical while the tool is being run into the bore hole.

A sub 5 is slidably mounted in the bore 2, and is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged ears' 6-6 which flt and slide in the grooves or slots 3. A bit shank 1 depends from the sub 5 and might be detachable from the sub, 10 although the parts couldbe constructed in one piece.

A plurality of reaming cutters 8 are provided at the upper end of the shank l. The purpose of these cutters is to ream the side of the hole as the, deflecting bit 9 descends into the formation. When the tool is being run into the hole, the weight of the shank 'l and the bit 9 will cause the ear 6 to be located in the bottom of the grooves 3. The lower end of these grooves are arranged at an angle to the vertical as shown in- Figure 2 and consequently the entire shank is positioned at an angle to the vertical as shown in Figure 1. The inner surface of the bore 2 is cut away on an angle as shown at 9, so that the sub 5 can hang at an angle to the vertical.

When the bottom of the hole is reached, the

weight of the shank l and bit 9 is sufiicient to penetrate the formation. Then the drill pipe is lowered, whereupon the parts occupy the position shown in Figure 2, i. -e.-, a portion of the drill pipe will then be aligned with the shank- 1. Drilling then continues with the hole being deflected in the direction in which the shank I is placed when hanging free in the hole. The lower surface of the sleeve I may be notched to receive the reaming cutters 8, when the tool is in drilling position, thus the driving strain is divided between the ear 6 and the reaming cutters.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6, I have shown a means to yieldably press the bit shank l0 into deflection position. A spring. ii is attached tothe lower end of the sleeve i2 and the free end thereof presses against the shank Ill, thereby ur in said shank into the position shown in Figure 4. The sleeve I2" is provided with slots or grooves I3 into which ears It on the upper end of the shank l0 flt. Beaming cutters ii are also provided on the sleeve if for the purpose of reaming the side of 1 the hole when the deflecting bit I6 is inoperation. The drill pipe H, by means. of which the tool is rotated, is attached to the sleeve I! in a manner previously described. In thismodifica; tion, the spring il presses the shank l 0 into misalignment withthe drill pipe II, when the tool is '55 shown in Figures 7 and 8, the sleeve I8 is attachable to the drill pipe. This sleeve is provided -with angular slots i9 into which ears on the sub 2|, are adapted to -flt. The bit shank is attached to the sub as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The sleeve I8 is provided with a vertical bore 22, which flares outwardly at the bottom, thereby permitting the sub 2| to hand in misalignment with the drill pipe as shown in Figure'8. The sleeve bit shank and bit are provided with the usual water courses sothat circulating fluid can be forced through the tool in the usual operation of rotary drilling apparatus.

-Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, a bit shank slidably' and nonrotatably mounted in the sleeve, cooperating means on the sleeve and shank whereby said shank is guided in its sliding movement into misaligned relation with the sleeve when said shank hangs freely.

2. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, a bit shank slidably and'nonrotatably mounted in the sleeve, cooperating means on the sleeve and shank whereby said shank is guided in its sliding movement'in'to misaligned relation with the sleeve when said shank hangs freely, and spring means engaging said shank whereby the shank is urged into misalignment with the sleeve.

3. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, a bit shank slidably and nonrotatably mounted in the sleeve, cooperating means on the sleeve and shank whereby said shank is guided in its sliding movement into misaligned relation with the sleeve when said shank hangs freely, and reaming cutters arranged on the tool, said reaming cutters being spaced from the lower end of said shank.

4. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, a bit shank slidably and nonrotatably mounted in the sleeve,cooperating means on the sleeve and shank whereby said shank is guided in its sliding movement into misaligned relation with the sleeve when said shank hangs freely, and reaming cutters arranged on the tool, said reaming cutters being spaced from the lower end of said shank, and spring means engaging said shank whereby the shank is urged into misalignment with the sleeve.

5. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, a bit shank slidably and nonrotatably mounted in said sleeve, saidsleeve having vertical grooves formed therein, ears on the upper end of the bit shank, said ears extending into the grooves, a portion of each of the grooves being arranged at an angle to the vertical center line of the sleeve whereby the shank is urged into misalignment with the sleeve when the shank hangs freely.

8. A deflecting tool comprising a sleeve, 9. bit shank slidably and nonrotatably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve having vertical grooves formed therein, ears on the upper end of the bit shank, 3

said ears extending into the grooves, a portion of each of the grooves being arranged at an angle to the vertical center line of the sleeve whereby .the shank is urged into misalignment with the sleeve when the shank hangs freely, a spring means engaging the shank whereby said shank is urged into misalignment with the sleeve when the shank hangs freely.-

7. A deflectingtool .comprising a sleeve; a bit' shank slidably and nonrotatably mounted'in said sleeve, said sleeve having vertical grooves formed 7 therein, ears on the upper end of the bit shank, said ears extending into thegrooves, a portion of each of the grooves being arranged at an angle to the vertical center line of the sleeve whereby the shank'is urged into misalignment with the sleeve when the shank hangs freely, the inner walls of said sleeve being tapered outwardly at the bottom to clear said bit shank when said bitshank hangs in misalignment.

8. In a well bore deflecting tool: a sleeve member; a mandrel member; a drill bit connected with one 01' said members; a drilling string connected with the other member; said members incorporating interlocking elements forming a slidable driving connection between said members; said interlocking elements tending, when said members are extended, to dispose the drill bit in misalignment with the well bore, and tending, when said members are retracted, to transmit rotary movement from the drilling string to said drill bit while substantially in such misaligned relation.

9. The combination with a drilling string and drilling bit adapted to be lowered into a well bore, of a deflecting tool comprising: a sleeve member and a mandrel member interposed between, said string and bit; coacting elements incorporated in said members to form a slidable torque transmitting connection therebetween; said elements having a relatively extended position wherein said elements are operative to urge said drill bit into misalignment with the well bore.

10. The combination with a drilling string and drilling bit adapted to be lowered into a well bore, of a deflecting tool comprising: a sleeve member and mandrel member interposed between said string and bit and having a slidable torque transmitting connection therebetween; and deflecting means incorporating said connection and operative when said members are extended, to .urge said bit into misalignment with the well bore.

11. The, combination with a drilling string and drilling bit adapted to be lowered into a well bore, of a deflecting tool comprising: a sleeve member and a mandrel member interposed between said string and bit; coacting elements incorporated in said members to form a slidable torque transmitting connection therebetween; said elements having an extended bit deflecting position and a retracted non-deflecting position.

12. The combination with a drilling string and drillingbit adapted to be lowered into a well bore,

. of a deflecting tool comprising: a sleeve member and mandrel member interposed between said string and bit and having a slidable torque transmitting connection therebetween; andqleflecting means incorporatingsaid connection, said deflecting means being inoperative when said members are retracted and operative when said memsaid members to form a slidable torque transmitting connection therebetween; said elements having a relatively extended position wherein said elements are operative to urge said drill bit into misalignment with the well bore; said members being hollow; and coacting seat and face means engageable when said members are retracted, to establish a substantially sealed fluid channel from the drillingstring to thebit.

14. The combination with a drilling string and drilling bit adapted to be lowered into a well bore, of a deflecting tool comprising: a sleeve member and mandrel member interposed between said string and bit and having a slidabletorque transmitting connection therebetween; deflecting means incorporating said connection and oper-' ative when said members are extended, to urge said bit into misalignment with the well bore; and

confronting sealing means incorporated in said members engageable when said members are retracted, to establish a substantially sealed fluid channel from said drilling string to said drilling bit. I

means having a first position for facilitating spudding of said bit in misalignment with the well bore, and a second position wherein said torque may be applied to said bit so spudded.

15; Thecombination with a drillingstring and 16. A well deflecting tool adapted to be interposed between a drilling string and drilling bit, comprising: a slidable and torque transmitting connection means between said drilling string and drilling bit, having relatively movable parts adapted, when in one position, to form a universal joint structure for driving said drilling bit while in misalignment with 'said drilling string, and adapted; when in another position, to form a guide means restraining said drilling bit in a predetermined, fixed angular relation with said drilling string.

17. In a well deflecting tool: a sleeve member; a mandrel member telescoping therein; means forming a substantial sealing connection between said members when said members are telescoped: universal Joint means incorporating said members andoperative, when said members are tele scoped, to rotate one of said members by the other about their respective axes; and guide means incorporating said universal joint and said members to position one of said members whereby both of said members may rotate about a \commonaxis.

THOMAS E. MCMAVHAN. 

